(2007-04-03) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who raised more money in the first quarter than any presidential candidate who has not been a First Lady, said he would use his growing war chest to purchase so-called “popularity offsets.”
While Mr. Romney’s polling numbers have declined slightly during the same period, the revelation that he’s the top Republican in fundraising prowess means that he can continue to campaign all the way through the GOP convention, even if his popular support never gets out of the single-digits.
Politicians purchase popularity offsets indirectly from major news media firms that ramp up their coverage of candidates who reap big dollars from big donors. Ultimately most of that money ends up in the coffers of major media firms thus completing the “circle of campaign life.”
Like carbon offsets, that allow major polluters to assuage their guilt with money instead of personal restraint, popularity offsets permit politicians to carry on their extravagant campaign lifestyles without having to connect with the American voters in the early days of a run for the White House.
“However,” according to one unnamed media executive, “the popularity offsets eventually do convert to support by party delegates and votes on election day, as overwhelming news coverage persuades people that the candidate’s victory is inevitable and their desire to be on the winning team overrides their personal convictions.”
25 responses so far ↓
1 Scott Ott // Apr 3, 2007 at 6:09 am
Romney to Use $21M to Buy Popularity Offsets…
by Scott Ott(2007-04-03) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who raised more money in the first quarter than any presidential candidate who has not been a First Lady, said he would use his growing war chest to purchase so-called “popularity……
2 JamesonLewis3rd // Apr 3, 2007 at 6:15 am
God Bless America
3 camojack // Apr 3, 2007 at 6:24 am
Like carbon offsets, that allow major polluters to assuage their guilt with money instead of personal restraint, popularity offsets permit politicians to carry on their extravagant campaign lifestyles without having to connect with the American voters in the early days of a run for the White House.
Gee, who could we mean by that?
4 Hawkeye // Apr 3, 2007 at 6:34 am
Whoopeee! Where da ya go to buy some them thar offsets? I could use a few myself.
(:D) Regards…
5 Darthmeister // Apr 3, 2007 at 6:51 am
Is that “offsets” or “upsets”?
6 MargeinMI // Apr 3, 2007 at 6:53 am
So where’s the sarcasm part, Scott?
Mornin’ y’all!
7 Hawkeye // Apr 3, 2007 at 6:58 am
Just goes to show ya… Americans get the best President that money can buy!
Good morning to you to Marge.
(:D) Regards…
8 Hawkeye // Apr 3, 2007 at 6:59 am
Or maybe that should be the most expensive President that money can buy…?
9 Pretty funny! « Innocent Bystanders // Apr 3, 2007 at 7:10 am
[…] Read the rest. via e-mail from the Cotillion […]
10 conserve-a-tips // Apr 3, 2007 at 7:13 am
Why, oh why, didn’t they have these when I was that geeky kid with braces, in high school?
11 onlineanalyst // Apr 3, 2007 at 7:23 am
“I can be bought. In fact, I have been. No matter how I spin it, ‘I’m in it to win it.’ Campaigning is such a whirl for this material girl. (Take that, Nancy P.)”
— Madame Hillary Clinton
12 gafisher // Apr 3, 2007 at 7:29 am
In stark contrast to Carbon Offsets, Popularity Offsets are used to increase the purchaser’s footprint.
13 Ms RightWing, Ink // Apr 3, 2007 at 7:47 am
Good Morning all!
Utah money now arriving at track six.
14 onlineanalyst // Apr 3, 2007 at 7:51 am
What money won’t buy, unadulterated demagogic chutzpah will.
Thomas Sowell nails it in his description of Nanny Pulloutsy’s attempts at seizing executive-designated powers and prerogatives through her shadow-government “policies”: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2007/04/03/playing_with_fire
Is the Logan Act a paper tiger?
Demagogue: a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises to gain power.
The formula? First, claim to speak “for the people” (a role won through a slim majority of votes through an even slimmer mid-term voter turnout). Then either take the crown as Empress of the House or as a Presidential wannabe, and speak for yourself as the royal “we”. Perfect demagogery.
Buying an office is engraved in the Dhimmicrat playbook of down-and-dirty politics.
15 Just Ranting // Apr 3, 2007 at 9:00 am
Don’t know much about “popularity offsets”, but it looks like Romney’s economic move didn’t trickle down to Gary Trudeau yet. He’s taking a hit in Doonesbury this week.
16 Ms RightWing, Ink // Apr 3, 2007 at 9:03 am
I guess it must have to be bigger to get posted. My thought just got toasted
17 Ms RightWing, Ink // Apr 3, 2007 at 9:04 am
as I said in re:14 1/2:
Speak softly and carry a big wallet.
18 Darthmeister // Apr 3, 2007 at 9:19 am
Ms RightWing, on the other hand the Dhimmiecritters like to speak loudly AND carry a big wallet!
19 Ms RightWing, Ink // Apr 3, 2007 at 9:44 am
So after the Serpentine Court voted to make Greenhouse Gas illegal, I am left with this puzzling question-what am I suppose to do with all these cows on my John Deere farm (secretly hidden from public view)
And what about White House Gas??
20 upnorthlurkin // Apr 3, 2007 at 10:09 am
I’m just thrilled I tell ya! I took my own unscientific poll yesterday standing in line at the supermarket….the checkout dude told me he liked my button, (the I Support President Bush and OUR TROOPS) and the two ladies behind me agreed and they then proceeded to bash the big networks and our three (stooges) (all Dhimmis) representatives. We all agreed, the media is trying to convince the country that everyone is united against the war and the president when the opposite is true!! This was a college aged young man and two older ladies and me! It uplifting!
By the way, where’s Algore?! It’s April 3rd and we are in the midst of a global warming incident up here….so far, 3 to 4 inches of the white stuff, winds gusting to 33 mph, temps 25° below normal, and not relief in sight…..I thought it was spring!!!?
21 upnorthlurkin // Apr 3, 2007 at 10:12 am
And, re: 19, didn’t the Supremes designate CO2 a pollutant? Doesn’t that make exhaling illegal?! We’re all going to sound like we did back in college….
22 antodav // Apr 3, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Mitt Romney has managed to raise more money than any of the other candidates because he’s the closest thing to a genuine conservative running in the race so far. He’s had my support, despite the fact that he flip-flopped on certain issues when running against Ted Kennedy back in 1994 (but I can forgive him for that). His record as governor of Massachusetts is solid enough.
If Fred Thompson runs, however, Romney may as well just call it quits then and there. Thompson will out-fundraise Romney in a matter of weeks, and his conservative credentials are much, much stronger. I would be tolerant of Romney-but I would be passionate about Thompson.
23 JamesonLewis3rd // Apr 3, 2007 at 3:56 pm
[ cough ]
24 gafisher // Apr 3, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I thought I had the CIA at my door today — white shirts, thin ties, serious expressions — but it was just a pair of Romney Campaign Workers doing their year.
25 Loryienne // Apr 4, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Scott, I agree with nearly all of your satire, but I am very disappointed in your handling of Catholicism and Mormonism. I truly believe that all Christian religions,and all good people for that matter, should be in this struggle against Leftism, Islamofascism, and the decline of family values together. We face a worldwide struggle against evil-we need everyone who will make a stand for good. Look around you-note the Pope taking unpopular stands on crucial issues, and the LDS Church does the same. Neither is your enemy-both are your allies. We need each other.
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